Area measuring machine



Oct/23,1945. E.'WOOD Bl JRY 3 3 I AREA MEASURING MACHINE 1 Filed July 1,1943 4 Sheets-Shefl Oct. 23, 1945. s. E. WOODBURY 2,387,379

' AREA MEASURING MACHINE Filed July 1, 1943 4 Sheets- Sheet 5 III]! II5. E. woopBUR AREA MEASURING MACHIKE Filed July 1, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4n I| kLJJ Patented Oct. 23, 1945 AREA MEASURING MACHINE Stephen E.Woodbury, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application July 1, 1943,Serial No.49a119 12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines of the type known asthe Sawyer or Ramsdell area measuring machines which i. are commonlyused in the area measurement of sheet material such as hides or skins.

for initiating a measuring operation at the leading edge or face of awork piece of sheet mate- Machinesof this type are shown in the patcutsto W. A. Sawyer No. 286,078 and L. O; Ramsdell No. 931,144. Theprinciple of measurement in such machines consists in dividing the hideor skin into parallel theoretical strips of constant width, measuringthe length of all the strips, totalizing the lengths and transferringthe result to a dial which is properly calibrated to give the area ofthe hide or skin. The measuring wheels are located above the bed rollwhich bed roll is adapted to feed the work through the machine, and themeasuring wheels or other work measuring members are commonly adjustedwith respect to the bed roll to accommodate pieces of work of differentthickness. Such adjustment has been essential, as a variation inthickness of the work pieces measured would result in error in themeasurement. Often the operator neglects to make this adjustment, withthe result that in many cases the measurement is inex- .cess of the truemeasurement of the pieces of work. The reason for the inaccuracy is thata thicker piece of Work starts rotation of the measuring wheels orsegments sooner and maintains it later than would be done by a thinnerpiece of work.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved machine bywhich the lengths and areas of work pieces such as hides and skins maybe more accurately determined regardless of the thickness of such workpieces.

To this end, and in accordance with an important feature of theinvention, an independent measuring unit is provided for eachtheoretical strip of a work piece to be measured and each unitis underthe control of keenly sensitive detector or feeler devices actuated bythe strip as the work piece is passed through the machine.

rial to be measured and the provision of a second detector or electricalcontact member for terminating a. measuring operation at the trailingedge or face of a work piece being measured. The first contact memberwill abut the end face of the work as it enters the machine and thesecond contact device is biased to pass substantially parallel to theface of the trailing end of the work piece as it leaves the machine. Afurther feature comprises brake members under the control of thedetector devices to insure that the measuringdevices are inoperativeexcept as when desired. A further feature comprises a supplementarymeans located at the front of the machine including a cam mechanismwhereby the operator, while securing or after securing a reading on agiven workpiece, may release the brakes and initiate the disengagementfrom the geared wheel sets and return of all the measuring devices topositions corresponding with the initial or zero reading position of theconventional totalizing mechanism.

These and other important features of the invention will be described indetail in the specification and pointed out in the appended claims.

.In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one end of a machine incorporatingapplicants invention, certain portions being broken away;

Fig; 2 is a vertical section through the machine showing the. operativeparts as associated with one measuring unit, certain portions beingbroken away for purposes of clarity, and a work piece in position forthe measurement to be initiated; l Fig. 3 isa front elevational view ofFig. 2 along the line III-III showing the arrangement of two adjacentmeasuring units and associated parts; l l

' Rig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the contact arms shown in Fig. 2,a portion of the work driven wheel being broken away more clearly toshow the electrical connections and a work piece in positionfor themeasurement to be ter- I or work support I2, the direction of rotationbeing as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2. A table I4 is provided over whichtheoperator passes a work piece to be measured into the machine and overthe bed roILThebed roll I2 is preferably provided with a series ofannular channels I6,

(Figs. 2, 3, 5) extending along its length, one channel corresponding toone strip of the series of strips into which the work piece istheoretically divided, this division: for measuring purposes beingcustomary in machines of this type.

The structure now to be described is that associated with one measuringunit, it being understood that many such units are mounted side by sidein the broadly conventional arrangement across the front of the machine,th'e'number being such as to enable measurement of the Widest work piece.to be handled. Above each channel I6 is mounted a work drivenwheel I8as shown in Figs. 2,3 and 5. Each work driven wheel I8 is composed oftwo disks 28 and 22 (Fig. 5) and a hub 241having gear teeth 26 thereon.The disks 20 and 22 may be so made as to fit over the circular sideportions of the hub 24 to be joined thereto by peening over the metal..The

. work driven wheels I8 are preferably each so mounted that they restlightly upon the bed roll I2 although the arrangement may be altered, ifdesired, to limit the downward movement of the wheels I8 to give aslight clearance between them and the bed roll when no work is present.In the latter event, the wheels I8, will rotate only while work ispresent beneath them and sudden starting of the wheels I8 byintroduction of work pieces may give satisfactory results with. sometypes of .work where possible marring is not objectionable. Each wheelI8 is mounted upon a short shaft 28 suitably held in place on a member38, member 38 in turn being pivoted at 32 on the forward end of a leveri34 which'is pivoted at 36 on a bracket member 38 fastened to'the mainframe III'by bolts 48. The back end of the lever 34 is somewhat enlargedand carefully weighted so that a wheel I8 and its associated members arepreferably "held' in position to bear very lightly upon .the bedroll'. Aspring v42'with an adjustable'lock nut and pin (Fig.2) is 'dependentfrom an arm44 extending rearwardly from the member 38 by means of whichthe effectiveness of the weighted end of the lever 34 can be varied; Inorder to prevent horizontal displacement of the Work driveIi Wheel I8 abar 46 is pivotally notched at 48 into the element 38. The other end ofthe bar 46 is pivotally joined by means of brackets 58 and 52 to atransverse member of the main frame I8. .A large gear 54 is pivoted at32, and its teeth are preferably, and as shown, in mesh at all timeswith the teeth 26 of the work driven wheel hub. However, lifting of thework driven wheel I8 by a work piece may cause meshing of the gears ifsuch an arrangement is desired. The weight of the gear 54 must also beallowed for in determining the weight of the enlarged end of lever 34.Gear 54 has asmall pinion 5B constantly in engagement with the teethofia large gear 58. Wheels or gears I8, 54 and 58 constitute meshedsets, one set for each work piece strip 'tobe measured, i. e.,'one foreachmeasuring unit. These gear sets are in close parallel arrangementand extend across the entire width of the machine. All the gears 58 aremounted to rotate freely on a single nonrotatable shaft 68, which shaftis held in place by means of members 62 located one at each side of themachine frame I8. As stated before, the wheels I8, 54 and 58 aresupported in large part independently of roll I2 to preclude marring ofthe .work pieces. The gear, wheel 58 is provided with an annularshoulder 6| preferably of suitable frictional material through whichdisk 88 may be driven. It is to be understood that disk 88 may carry thefriction material for engagement with both the shoulder GI and a brakeshoe 78. Each member 38 has a forwardly projecting arm 64 upon which arepivotally mounted at 66 and 58 two arms I8 and I2. Thesetwo arms 18 and'12, the brake shoe '18, a solenoid l6 and springs 98 and I88 are usedas part of an automatic means for beginning and ending the measurementof a theoretical strip of a givenwork piece. Each arm I8 has a rearwardextension pivotally connected at point 14 by a link T5'with a solenoidI8. The forward end of each lever I8 is provided with the pivoted brakeshoe 18 adapted to bear against the periphery of-a measuring disk orwheel 88 rotatably mounted on the forward end of arm I2. In the loweredposition of arm I2, disk 88 may be driven by frictional contact withshoulder GI. Lifting of the disk 88 about the pivot 68 breaks thecontact. The hub of'disk 88 constitutes a. Windlass 82 about which isWound a chain" 84 which passes over an "idler wheel 86 and below anidler wheel 88 and thence in aconventional manner to the totalizingmechanism designated generally as 89. The disk 88 has a stop 98 thereonto limit the extent of its rotation.- An adjustable stop 92 is mountedon the arm "I2 to strike against the stop 98. An inverted U-shapedextension 94 of the arm 84 constitutes astop to limit'the upwardmovement of the arm 72. A spring 98 is held in compression between theextension 94 and the arm 12 tending to hold the arm I2 in its lowermostposition. A spring I80 connected at one end 'to the arm 64 and attachedat its opposed'en'd' to the arm I8 tends to pull the arm I8 downwardly.At each side of the machine an upwardly extending bracket arm I82 isplaced on the machine frame to support a transversely extendingshaft'IIM. For each work driven wheel I 8 and its attendant parts a camI86 is keyed or otherwise fixed'to the shaft I84. At one end of theshaft I04 a lever I88 is fastened, and by means of a treadle II8 and asuitable connecting rod II2 the shaft I84 and all the cams I86 thereinmay ber ota'ted for a'purpose to be subsequently described. For

the measuring of a given work piece. These two arms are mounted upon asuitable bracket II8' fastened to the main frame ID by a hollow screwI28. The arrangement is such that the arms H4 and H6 are pivoted at I22and'l-24 '(Fig. 5),

and each arm is possessed of two extensions, one to function as anelectric contact means and the other as a feelerdevice'to contactwork-pieces to be measured. Both feelers or arm ends are shaped so as tooperate through a small opening in a work piece, such as a'hole, to omitmeasuring it and they operate to detect the end faces of 'the workpiece. The arms are preferably placed above a skin-to be measuredbecause they not. injure the work piece surface.

tioneduabove the skin andithe other below and still serve thexsamepurpose. The feeler ends or tips: of arms I I4 and H6 are very narrow,

about in width, andthey. may be hardened to resist. wear 1 and polishedso that they will ends should terminate at-positions in a straight linealong the roll I2. The channels IS in the bed roll :areof appropriatewidth to receive the. feeler endsor tips. A spring I25 is mounted onthecbracket, II8 to insure that the arm H6 is lightly held down on thebed roll I2 in the absenceof a work piece thereon. The arm H4 islikewise held down by .meansof a spring I26 suitably, fastened to thearm H6, as shown. A bus bar I30 (Fig. is mounted to extend across themachine and betweenthe contact points of thetarms II 4 and H6; 'I'hisbusbar is connected withone side-I32 of a suitable source ofcurrent (Fig.1),: A conduit I34 issupported along the front of the machine andcarries insulated wires, one;for each work driven wheel. Each wire leadsthroughia hollow screw I .from the conduit I34 and is then divided intotwo sections or ends I 36yand I38. Wire section I35 is connected, totheicontact point of arm H6 and wiresection I38 .isconnected to thecontact point of. arm II4.; The conduit 134 extends up and along oneside of the machine (Fig. 1) and then across the top. Each insulatedwire leads from the contact pointspf one set of arms H4, H6 and passesthrough the conduit I34 and to the solenoid I6. A short wireleadsfromthe solenoid to a bus bar I40,and a single wire, I42 (Fig. 1).leading from, thebus ba'r I40 totheother side of the sourcelofcurrentserves thesolenoids associated with all the work .driven'wheels.Itshould be understood thatthe contact points are so mounted on thearms. I,I4,and' II6 that they are in-' sulated therefrom.

:, .It. is. to bewunderstood that the preferred construction isasshownbutthat the solenoids may be;arran ge'd differently andzused tobring about the engagement of thedisks 80 with the wheels 58 andiithatsprings maybe used to terminate instead of initiating that'engagement.In such evennfiliftingof the feelers orarm's H4 and H6 by-a workpieceashould energize the solenoids instead of deenerg'ize them-and thebus bar arrangement. would necessarilybe changed. Such a, modifieddesignwould come within the spirit of thisinvention; I l I InyFig; 2 the: armI I4 is shown in position as displaced by an entering work piece.- Thisdis placement. breaks the electrical contact between the arm I I4 andthe bus bar I30 (Fig. 4) but the distancebetweenthe points of contactaretoo smallto show in either: gu2 or the similarview iiilFigifl' of tl'iedrawings. 5 i

Fig. 37 shows several features which difierentia te froin those of Fig.2. In order to avoid confusion, reference characters are used in Fig.'I'only for those elements which difier from those shownin Figs; 2 .2116. 5; In place of the gear 58 withdts friction material, as shown inFig. 2, a gear J44 havingsmall teeth I46 is utilized, these teeth beingadapted to; mesh with small teeth I4 on one sideof the periphery ofawork measwheel or; disk I50, The other side of the disk ainters 1fQtiQnmeW e i e s byl These feeler.

the brake? shoe as may. be provided in the structure of Fig. 2-; A. bedrollil52 is provided having no channels. therein and in place. of workdriven wheelsIB, such as shown in Fig. 3, awork driven wheel I54 is usedhaving an exterior toothed hub I51. The hub and wheel arefastenedtogether by means of screws I56. The hub I51 is located ononeside of the wheel I54 instead of being in the middle but anelement 30 ispivotedto the other side of the wheel in a manner similar to thatof-F'ig.- 2. This latter construction necessitates that the electric,contact arms I II4 and I I6 be; mountedbetween the wheels I54, insteadofwithin the wheels I8 asshown in Fig. 2.

To understand the operation of the device; re-

course should first be had to Fig. 2 of the drawings. As that figure isviewed, a skin to be meas-: ured has been insertedfrom the right uponthe table. I4 by the operator, the feed roll I2 being constantly rotatedby power means in the direction shown, serving to pull the skin throughthe machine and beneath the series of wheels I8. The wheels I8, havingbeen in light contact with the bed roll before introduction of the skin,are always in motion together with the wheels 54 and 58 with the resultthatno problems of inertia are encountered. Prior to a skin beingintroduced into the machine theelectriccircuit for a givenmeasuring unitis maintained by the action of the arms II 4 and H6. The completedcircuit energizes the solenoid I6 associated with each theoretical stripor measuring unit and thereby lifts the arms I0 and holds the disks fromrotating by means of the frictional brakes I8 at which time the arms I2are held from excessive upward motion by the brackets 94'serving asstops. The arrangement. is such that before beginning a measuringoperation each disk 80 is in the positionshown in Fig. 2 with its stopagainst a screw92. With all the disks 80 in that position a zero readingis obtained on a totalizing mechanism 89. The mechanism 89 isconventional and is weighted to give a continual tendency to return toits initial position, i. e., its position of zero reading. As theleading edge of a theoretical strip of the skin approaches the dependingends of'thearms II4, :IIG (Fig. 5) it lifts one of the wheels I8 andalso the arm I I4 so as to break contact with the busbar I30 but theelectric circuit for the corresponding measuring unit is stillmaintained by the contact of arm IIS on the bus bar I30 and no result issecured at this stage. Theleading edge of the advancing skin strip nextadvances to the line of contact between the feed roll I2 and. the workdriven wheel I8. At this position any slight additional movement of theleading edge of the skin strip causes the arm I I6.

to separate from the bus bar I30, thereby opening the electrical circuitfor that skin strip. This. sets in actionthe means which registers thearea. of that strip on the totalizing mechanism 89, as will be nowshown. Introduction of the skin to lift both arms H4 and I I6 breaks thecircuit, with the result that the corresponding solenoid is deenergized;spring I00 pulls arm I0 downwardly against stop I 0 I, and compressionspring 98 urges the periphery of disk 80 against the shoulder BI of thewheel 58 to initiate the measuring operation for the skin strip. The.chain 84 is wound about the turnstile 82 to produce its efiect on thetotalizing mechanism. As the trailing edge of the skin strippassestheline of contact bet-ween the roll I2 and the wheel I8 itpermits the arm I I4 to move into contact with the bus bar I30, therebysharply closing the electric circuit which terminates the measurement ofthe ordinate or the length of the theoretical strip of the work pieceand energizes the solenoid 16 to apply the brake l8 and to breakengagement of the wheel 58 with the disk 80 thereby 'to terminate theeffect on the totalizing mechanism reading. When the trailing'edge ofthe skin strip passes away from the arm I I6 it allows this arm toreturn into contact with'the bus bar I30, but at this time withouteffect, sincethe circuit was closed previously by the arm H4. After theoperator has taken the reading from the totalizing mechanism 89 which isthe accumulative result of the measurement of all the theoretical stripsof the skin, i. e.-, the area of the skin, he will operate the treadle Hand thereby rotate all the cams I06 through an angle of about 90 fromthe position shown in Fig. 2. This action forces theforward ends of thelevers l0 and 12 apart and the disks 80 are enabled to return totheirstopped positions, i. e., the conventional totalizing mechanism 89(usually weight operated, as before stated) is enabled to return to itsinitial or zero reading position. After such return, the treadle I I0 isreleased and the cams I06 are returned to the position shown by suitableSpring means (not shown) and the machine is ready for another measuringoperation. It is-to' be understood that the ratios'of gearing and thesize of the disks80 are such that the disks 80 'donot rotate an entirerevolution with the measurement of-any skin or hide.

' In the modification of Fig. 7 the manner of operation is'the same asthat of the machine in Fig. 2. However, the action of the machine issomewhat more positive in that the engagement of the wheel I44 and thedisk I50 is through gear teeth rather than by surface friction. Theteeth must be small to insure proper meshing and to avoid inaccuracy inthe reading.

-With the construction shown (both modifi-- cations) it should be notedthat the feeler system comprising the arms lldand H6 is such that onlythe middle ordinate of each strip of the work piece is measured. Itshould also be noted that the arms H4, H6 are so arranged that measuringof a stripstarts exactly at the leading edge or face of the skin stripand stops exactly at the trailing edge or face. The means to 'engage thetotalizing mechanism is such that the engagement is exactly inaccordance with the demand of the feeler system. The brake 18 positivelystops measurement exactly when it should be stopped and definitely holdsthe parts in the stepped position. The release for the brake will freethe parts to allow measurement to begin as exactly and accurately as itwas stopped. Notches, holes, and so forth in in a work piece are notincluded in the reading,

on the totalizing mechanism as they are detected by the fingers or armsH4 and -I l6. The connections from the work driven gear sets to thetotalizing mecchanism are such that the passage of the work piece overthe supporting roll may be at a changing speed or actually in reverse indirection at any time without any adverse effect on the accuracy of thefinal measurement. The wheels I8, 54 and 58 are not returned to anygiven position for a zero reading, and therefore, the same places on thewheels are not used to start measuring again. The operator may retardthe middle portion of a skin as in the ordinary manner now in usewithout afiecting the accuracy in the reading, and he may therebyeffectively fold out skirt folds. Backlash 'is eliminated by having allmeasuring parts in motion before engaging the totalizing mechanism, andthis eliminates the eifect of inertia so that there is no delay instarting the measuring nor is there a spinning ahead at the finish ofthe measuring operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of. the United States is:

1. In a machine for measuring the length of a work piece of sheetmaterial, a power driven work feeding and supporting roll, a set ofmeshed and geared wheels arranged to be operated by a workpiece passedin contact with the,

set by the roll, a measuring device mounted for movement into and out ofa position to be engaged and driven by said geared wheels, and automaticmeans for efiecting the said movement including two electrical contactdevices, one contact device being adapted to detect the leading edge ofthe work piece as it passes over the roll to initiate the saidengagement, the other contact device being adapted subsequently todetect the trailing edge of the work piece to terminate the engagement,the said automatic means being arranged to maintain the engagement ofthe measuring device with the geared wheels in accordance with thelength of the work 2. In a, measuring machine for measuring sheetmaterial, a series of parallel sets of gears, each set arranged to beindependently operated by one strip of the theoretical strips of a workpiece passed in contact with the series over a support, means formeasuring the lengths of all the strips and arranged to be operated byengagement with the series, and automatic means for effecting the saidengagement including two electrical contact devices to each set ofgears, one of said contact devices being arranged to detect the leadingedge of the work piece as it is passed over the support to initiate thesaid'engagement, the other contact device being arranged to detect thetrailing edge of the work piece as it is passed over the support toterminate the engagement, the said automatic means being arranged tomaintain the engagement of the measuring means with the series inaccord-- placement of the feeler ends by the work piece as fed by theroll operates the said automatic means through the contact points.

4. In a machine for measuring the length of a work piece, a power drivenwork feeding and ,supporting roll, a set of meshed and geared wheels,the said set being supported in large part independently of thesupporting'roll to effect a light tread engagement with the work piece,one of said wheels bearing gear teeth on its exterior hub, said setbeing arranged to beoperated by a work piece passed in light contactwith the one wheel by the roll, a measuring device arranged to be drivenby engagement with the set of geared wheels, automatic means foreffecting the engagement and disengagesses-'29 jment ofsaid measuringdevice and the geared wheels including contact devices atthe side oftheone said wheel, said fcontact devices being thereby maintain theengagement in accordance with the length of the work; piece, andsuppleme'ntary means at the front of the machine for effecting saiddisengagement when desired.

Ina measuring machine, a series of parallel sets of" gears, each setbeing arranged to be independently operated by one strip of thetheoretical strips of a work piece passed in contact with the seriesover a support and each set being supported in large part independentlyof the work support to effect a light tread engagement with the workpiece, disks bearing gear teeth for measuring the lengths of all thestrips and arranged to be operated by toothed engagement with theseries, automatic means for effecting the toothed engagement anddisengagement of said disks and the series arranged to be controlled bythework piece as passed over the support, said automatic means beingadapted to maintain the toothed engagement in accordance with thelengths of the strips, and supplementary means at the front of themachine for effecting said disengagement when desired.

6. In a measuring machine, a power driven work feeding and supportingroll, a series of parallelsets of gears, each set being arranged to bedriven by the roll in the absence of a work piece and to beindependently operated by one strip of the theoretrical strips of a workpiece when passed in contact with the series by the roll and each setbeing supported in large part independently of the work support toeffect a light tread engagement with the work piece, means for measuringthe lengths of all the strips and arranged to be operated by engagementwith the series, and automatic means to effect and terminate saidengagement including electrical contact members in the path of the workpiece as it is passed over the supporting roll, said automatic meansbeing arranged to maintain the engagement in accordance with the lengthsof the strips, and supplementary means at the front of the machine toterminate said engagement when desired.

7. In a machine for measuring a work piece of sheet material, powerdriven work feeding and supporting means, means arranged to be driven bya work piece and thereby measure the area of the work piece as passedover the work suppcrting means, and control means for rendering saidmeasuring means effective comprising independent sets of fingers locatedadjacent the work supporting means, one set being arranged to detectthethin leading edge of the work piece as it is passed over the supportto initiate measurement, the other set being arranged to detect the thintrailing edge of the work piece to terminate the measurement, each sethaving pivotally supported feeler ends terminating at positions in astraight line along the work supp rting means and bearing electricalcontact points whereby displacement of the ends by the work piece beingfed by solenoid operated brake for the measuring means, electricalcontact members adjacent the work supporting means adapted to completethe circuit throughgs'aid solenoid to apply the brake when no work pieceis present on said supporting means, and a cam device arranged torelease the measuring device from the work driven means andthe brake.

9 In a machine for measuring sheet material, a Po e driven w k eed n asu o t means, a measuring means arranged to be'operated by a work piecebeing fed by said work feeding means, and a control means for saidoperation including a contact device to abut the end face of the work asit enters the machine to initiate the said measuring operation and asecond contact 'device biased to pass substantially parallel to the faceof the trailing end of the work piece to terminate the measuringoperation as the work piece leaves the machine.

10, In a machine for measuring the area of a Work piece such as a hideor skin, a transverse power driven work feeding and supporting roll, aseries of independent parallel measuring units extending along the frontof the machine, each unit comprising a set of geared Wheels arranged tobe driven by the roll in the absence of a Work piece and by such workpiece if such piece be fed to the machine, each unit also being providedwith-a means for measuring the length of the part of the work piecedriving the unit and arranged to be operated by engagement with itscorresponding set of geared wheels, automatic mean for each unitincluding two electrical contact devices comprising pivotally supportedfingers having feeler ends located adjacent the work supporting roll andterminating in a straight line therealong, one of said contact devicesbeing adapted to detect the leading edge of a work piece as passed overthe roll, the other contact device being adapted to detect the trailingedge of the work piece as it is passed over the roll, the said automaticmeans also including a solenoid-operated brake and means for moving themeasuring means into and out of engagement with its geared wheels, saidautomatic means being arranged to immobilize its corresponding measuringmeans before and after the said part of the work piece drives the unit,the measuring means of all the units being connected to a weightedtotalizing mechanism to secure the area of the Work piece, and a camdevice arranged to release all the measuring devices from theirassociated brakes and geared wheels to permit the weighted totalizingmechanism to return to its initial position preparatory to reception ofthe next work piece into the machine.

11. In a machine for measuring the area of a work piece such as a hideor skin, a power driven work feeding and supporting roll, a series ofparallel measuring units extending along the front of the machine, eachunit being arranged to be independently driven by a work piece passedover the roll and including two electrical contact devices locatedadjacent the roll to detect the presence of a work piece thereon, a setof geared wheels to be driven by said work piece, a measuring disk,means for bringing the disk into engagement with the set of gearedwheels, a solenoid-operated brake for the said. disk, the said means andbrake being arranged to be operated by the contact devices, all of theunits having a common cam device to release all the measuring disks fromthe sets of geared wheels and the brakes, and a weighted totalizingmechanism operatively connected to all the measuring disks. I

12. In a measuring machine for'measuring sheet material, a series ofparallel sets of gears, each set arranged to be independently operatedby one strip of the theoretical strips of a work piece passed in contactwith the series over a support, means for measuring the lengths of allthe strips andarranged to be operated by engagement with the series,means for mounting the measuring means in yielding engagement with theseries, and two electrical-contact de- 10 of the work piece.

STEPHEN E. WOODBURY.

